Dispensing apparatus



Dec. 4, 1934. H. J. MCCUE DISPFTNSING APPARATUS l. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. ffarzy f//f/ue. BY 0n/1MA "y D l Aromvgs.

Dec. 4, 1934. H. J, MCCUE DISPENSING APPARATUS l, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

Patented Dec. 4, 1934 i I y iNjlTEo i STATES PATENT :oEFicE msPENsrNG, APrAnA'rUs I Harry J. McCue, Cleveland, Ohio Application December i, 1931, serial No. 518,259

9 claims. (c1. c25- 21) The present invention relating generally as arm is operated, and consequently the number nominally indicated, to a dispensing apparatus, of drinks dispensed by the apparatus. l has more particular reference to a device for Advantages and objects additional to those automatically refrigerating, measuring, and mixabove enumerated shall become apparent as the ing syrup and carbonated and plain water bevfollowing description proceeds. To the accom- 60l orages, plishment of the foregoing and related ends, said One of the objects of my present invention is invention, then, consists of ,the means herein-1` to provide means for thoroughly admixing the after fully described and particularly` pointed constituents of the carbonated beverages within out in the claims. i

an interior mixing chamber and before the pasl The annexed drawings and the following Vde 65v sage through the dispensing faucet or draft arm. scription set `forth in detail certain mechanism Y This admixture of the 'ingredients isv accomembodying the invention, such disclosed means 'r plished without loss of refrigeration or carbonaconstituting, however, but one of various metion and the ready-for-use beverage is delivered chanical forms in which the principle of the in- .16 after the carbonated water has been thoroughly vention may be used. 70'-l mixed in the presenceof its dissolved carbon In said annexed drawings:

dioxide gas,- producing a decided improvement Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the dispensing in the flavor, texture and taste of the beverage apparatus Constructed according t0 the principle as well as substantially eliminating waste of the of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the syrup and carbon dioxide gas. Means are also apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 with the syrup 75` provided for the control of the foam. It is a bottle and cover removed. well known fact that when carbondioxide gas Directing attention more particularly to Figis introduced into water in which sugar is dis- 1. there is shown the outer housing assembly solved in a closed tank that the resultantmix- Shell 1 mOurlted uDOn the SuIJPOItil-'ig base 2- ture is inthe form 0f a, frothy 0r foamy sub- The Outer Shell l, although Shown t0 be Of OC- 80 stance and must be reduced to liquefied form tagOnal shape, may be made cylindrical or in threugh the release of-sgme 0f the carbon diany Other equivalent Cross-Sectional form Which' oxide gas before a substantially liquid beverage the mandates of attractive design may prescribe. may be produced. Insome cases, however, the A rubber mat 3 may be placed under the Supportfoamy or frothy substance' is served as a bevrig base 2- A tcp 4 tS Over the hOuSing Shell 1 85" erage in its original forni, such as foamy root and has a oenterop'ening 5 forthe reception ofv beer. Such above mentioned alternative forms the Syrup bOttle 6 A false Polished metallic of beverages may beconveniently reduced in my. bottle Cover 7 rests upOn the tOp 0f the Syrup dispensing apparatus through the regulation ci bottle or globe 6- the form oi inlet water jet which shall be herc- The lower or inserted end of the Syrup globe 6 90 inafter more fully described and set forth, l is elongated into the neck portion 8 to which in It is a further object to provide a cooling turn is secured the screw cap 9 carrying the 4system and housing assembly for my device conical syrup strainer`10 and valve stem 11.

I lwhereby there shall be maintained a satisfactory The valve stern 11 carries the conical valve 12 cooling temperature upon the liquids contained Which iS adapted t0 bear against the Seat 13 95 in the interior of the dispensing device while, at When the Syrup glObe 6 iS removed from its in the same time producing a suiiiciently low tem- Serted DOSitlOn upon the dispenser. The lasty perature upon the exterior of the housing as t0 described Valve mechanism lS for the purpose 0f cause the exposed surface and parts thereof to preventing the spi11ing of syrup when the syrup 4'5 become covered with frost. The last-named exglobe 6 is inserted through the opening 5. A 100 j pedient has the particular advantage of enhanc- Valve lifting plate 14 bears against the bottom.

' ing the attractiveness of the dispensing appa- 0f the Syrup Cup 15 and raises the valve 12 to ratus for display purposes. y open position when the syrup globe 6 is placed Another object is the provision of means for in proper Operating DOSltiOrl.

predeterminately measuring the amount of syrup It will thus be seen that inasmuch as the syrup 105 which is introduced into the mixing chamber, globe 6 has no upper opening, that a constant and which is ultimately communicated to each quantity of syrup will be` maintained in the individual drink dispensed by the apparatus. syrup cup 15 at alltimes duexto the exertion of Still another object is to provide means for barometric pressure".

recording the number of times that the draft Immediately below the syrup cup 15 is posi- 110 tioned the measuring chamber 16 having the upper and lower inlet and outlet ports 17 and 18 respectively. A spring loaded valve stem 19 carries the valves 20 and 21 which are in turn adapted to open and close the ports 17 and 18. A vent pipe 22 effects atmospheric communication with the top of the measuring chamber 16, and is for the purpose of enabling the rapid. delivery of the syrup from the measuring chamber 16 into the mixing chamber as well as the delivery from the syrup cup 15 to the measuring chamber 16, in a manner which shall be hereinafter more fully described. An annular bushing 23 threadably engages the upper ports of the measuring chamber and supports the bottom of the syrup cup 15. By means of varying the thickness of the washer or gasket 24 between the bushing 23 and the measuring chamber 16, it is possible to adjustably regulate the capacity of the measuring chamber 16.

The bottom of the measuring chamber 16 communicates with the mixing chamber 25 upon one end of which is positioned the draft arm or dispensing faucet 26, and upon the other end of which is attached the plain or carbonated water supply pipe 27.-

The draft arm actuating handle 28 moves the interior cam 29 which in turn unseats the rubber plug 30, thereby effecting an opening between the mixing chamber 25 and the draft arm or faucet 26.' Attached to the rear of the rubber plug valve 30 and positioned within the interior of the mixing chamber 25 is found the auxiliary tubular valve mechanism 31 which carries the beveled lug 32. 'Ihe lug 32, upon movement of the draft arm and valve mechanism, forces the measuring chamber valve stem upwards, closing the upper port 17 and opening the lower port 18 so that the contents of the measuring chamber 16 will be delivered to the interior of the mixing chamber 25. On further movement of the draft arm actuating handle 28, the spring mounted water valve stem 3 3 will be moved to the right or further backward in order to open the water valve 34. When the water valve 34 is open, a spray of Water will be delivered upwardly through the jet opening 35 towards the communicating port 18 of the syrup measuring chamber 16. 'I'he upwardly delivered jet 35 has the effect of imparting a whirlpool action to the incoming water which produces a thorough admixture with the syrup, as Well as washing off the syrup valve parts.

It will thus be seen that the constituents of the dispensed beverage are thoroughly mixed within the interior of the device, with the exclusion of air and consequently without any substantial-de-aeration of the carbonated water. Furthermore, both the syrup and the water supply are subjected to" a thorough refrigeration action by means of the cooling system which shall now be fully described.

Inwardly spaced from the outer housing shell 1 is found the inner shell 36 about which is coiled the refrigerant circulating pipe 37. Referring to Fig. 2, the compressed refrigerant such as methyl chloride, sulphur dioxide, or the like,` is introduced through the high pressure pipe 39 to the expansion valve 40 and is then boiled or evaporated through the circulating coils 37, producing a resultant refrigeration effect.

A non-freezing liquid is containedin the space between the outer metallic shell 1 and the inner shell 36 with the result that there is a more rapid thermo-conductivity towards the exterior of the housing shell 1 than there is towards the interior. By increasing the thermo-conductivity of the surface of the housing shell 1 by means of plating or highly polishing such surface, it is possible to produce a deposit of frost thereon.

Therefore, While the outer surface of the housing shell 1 is maintained at below a, freezing temperature of 32 F., the interior parts being separated from the refrigerating coils by a medium of greater thermo-resistance, namely, air, will be maintained at a temperature above freezing or about 36 to 40 F. Referring. again to Fig. 2, a thermostat tube 41 communicates with the interior of the dispensing apparatus and maintains a controlled temperature therein.

A mechanical counter 42 may be mounted upon the upper side of the draft arm 26 and connected by means of the link arm 43 to the draft arm actuating lever 28, so that the number of drinks dispensed by the apparatus will be immediately recorded.

It will thus be apparent'that the mixing chamber is practically a continuation of the water line, the latter being bellied out at a designated point in order to allow for the measuring chamber attachment, with a water inlet at one end and a water outlet at the other. The draft arm movement initially opens the allows a predetermined amount of syrup to flow into the water line, and then as the rubber plug opens from its seat, the completely mixed beverage ilows out through the draft arm.

Other modes of applying the principle of my' invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention;v

l. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of a mixing chamber, a dispensing faucet positioned on the end of said chamber, an operating valve for said faucet, a syrup reservoir, an auxiliary chamber connecting said reservoir to said mixing chamber, valve means for delivering? the contents of said auxiliary chamber to said mixing chamber, and means for actuating said valve means connected to and operated by said faucet valve.

2. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of a mixing chamber, a dispensing faucet positioned on the end of said chamber, a syrup reservoir, an auxiliary chamber connecting said reservoir to said ymixing chamber, valve means for delivering the contents of said auxiliary chamber to said mixing chamber, and a plain or carbonated water inlet in the end of said mixing chamber opposite said faucet, said inlet being adapted to direct a spray of water into the interior of said mixing chamber and against said auxiliary valve.

3. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of a mixing chamber, a dispensing faucet positioned on the end of said chamber, an operating valve for said faucet, a syrup reservoir, an auxiliary chamber connecting said reserf voir to said mixing chamber, valve means for delivering the contents of said auxiliary chamber to said mixing chamber, a plain or carbonated water inlet in the end of said mixing chamber opposite said faucet, and valve means for opening and closing said inlet upon the actuation of said faucet valve.

syrup valve and 4. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of a mixing chamber, a dispensing faucet positioned on the end of said chamber, a syrup reservoir, a syrup measuring chamber connecting said reservoir to said mixing chamber, valve means for simultaneously disconnecting said syrup reservoir in said auxiliary chamber and for delivering the contents of the latter to said ymixing chamber, a plain or carbonated water inlet in the end of said mixing chamber opposite said faucet, valve means for opening and closing said inlet upon the actuation of said faucet and refrigerating means surrounding all of said above-named elements with the exception of said faucet.

5. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of an outer metallic shell, an inner shell spaced from said outer shell, and refrigerating means for producing a coating of frost on said outer shell.

6. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of an outer metallic shell, an inner shell spaced from said outer shell, a low freezing point solution contained in the space between said shells, and means for rfrigerating said solution.

7. Ina beverage dispensing apparatus, the

combination ofian outer metallic shell, an inner shell spaced from said outer shell, a low freezing point solution contained in the space between said shells, and refrigerant circulating coils passing through said solution.

8. In a beverage dispensing apparatus, the combination of a mixing chamber, a syrup inlet, a plain or carbonated water inlet, both .of said `inlets communicating with said mixing chambeverage circulating means positioned within theA interior of said inner shell and refrigerating means positioned between said shell and said housing for producing a coating of frost onthe exterior of said housing and for refrigerating said beverage circulating means.

' l HARRY J. MCCUE. 

